Youth and Reflexivity

The present research aims at studying factors influencing reflexive identity among students of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. The extracted theoretical framework is that of Anthony Giddens and Peter Berger theories, and research hypothesis designed according to the model. Independent variables are: rate of using ICT (internet and cell phone), educational degree, parents’ education, job status of father, mother’s employment, gender, birth place, religious identity; ritual aspect, household income, rate of using supplementary reading resources and satellite antenna (TV). According to Lin (1976) by considering 50% parameter, 95% confidence level and 5% error, sample size estimated n=377, but for more confidence, 391 questionnaire completed and analyzed. Stratified random sampling was used because of the diversity of colleges and branches. Data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting closed and half-open questions. Likert scale was used for measuring reflexive identity aspects, religious identity (ritual aspect), and internet dependency. Alpha coefficients of above scales were acceptable and for reflexive identity scale it was more than. 80. Generally, among 12 independents variables, 8 variables showed significant relationship with reflexive identity. They are: 1- rate of using ICT (internet and cell phone), 2- Father’s education, 3- Mother’s education, 4- gender, 5- birth place, 6- religious identity, 7- satellite antenna (TV), 8- supplementary reading resources. All of above variables had positive significant relationship, except religious identity and one of the subdivision of the supplementary reading resources, that is religious resources, which were main challenge against reflexive identity development. Variables that didn’t showed significant relationships with reflexive identity are: educational degree, father’s job status, mother’s employment, and household income. Among subdivision variables of supplementary reading resources, two of them, i.e. reading and interest in the Iranian history and literature had not significant relationship with reflexive identity.